Putter head

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

p-0002The Present Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/017,104, filed on Dec. 27, 2007.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

p-0003Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00041. Field of the Invention

p-0005The present invention relates to a putter-type club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a putter-type club head having a removable aft member.

p-00062. Description of the Related Art

p-0007The golf industry has been inventing putters that make the game of golf easier for the high handicap player. One such putter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,798 to David Pelz. The Pelz patent discloses a putter with an alignment means to assist a golfer in aiming a golf ball toward a hole during putting. The Pelz patent discloses using two or three golf ball shaped indicators as the alignment means. The golf ball shaped indicators may be circles, hemispheres, or complete spheres. The Pelz patent discloses positioning the indicators along a line extending rearward from the center of percussion.

p-0008Another patent that discloses an alignment means is U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,083 to Szczepanski. The Szczepanski patent discloses a group of lines that converge toward the center of the face of the putter.

p-0009Yet another patent that discloses an alignment means is Great Britain Patent Application Number 4,659,083 to Lilley. The Lilley patent also discloses a group of lines that converge toward the center of the face of a putter.

p-0010Another example is Schmidt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,068, for a Golf Putter With Dished Bottom Surfaces which discloses a putter composed of a single cast material and having a hollow interior.

p-0011Another example is Uebelhor, U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,484, which was filed on Mar. 20, 1998 for a Golf Putter Head. Uebelhor discloses a putter head with a U-shaped body and a block within the middle. The block has a lower specific gravity than the U-shaped body.

p-0012Yet another example is Rose et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,412 originally filed in January of 1996 for a Golf Club, Particularly A Putter. The Rose patent discloses a center portion composed of a light metal material and the heel and toe portions composed of heavier metals. The metals are forged or cast to create the putter head.

p-0013Another example is Fernandez, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,616 for a Golf Club, which was originally filed in 1984, discloses a lightweight composite material molded to a hard, high density material for distribution of mass. Fernandez discloses a composite shell with a high density insert composed of tungsten or some other high density material.

p-0014Although these inventions have provided new and improved putters for making the game of golf more enjoyable for high handicap players, the prior art has not optimized a putter by making it more forgiving and assisting in alignment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0015One aspect of the present invention is a putter-type club head having a main body and a removable aft member with a mallet shape. The main body has a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion. The removable aft member is attached to the main body with fasteners. The removable aft member preferably has a central mass portion, a heel arc member extending outward from the central mass portion and a toe arc member extending outward from the central mass member.

p-0016Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a top perspective of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club head of the present invention.

p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a top perspective of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club head of the present invention.

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a bottom perspective of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club head of the present invention.

p-0020<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club head of the present invention.

p-0021<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club of the present invention.

p-0022<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club of the present invention

p-0023<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club of the present invention.

p-0024<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type club of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

p-0025As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-8</figref>, a putter-type club head of the present invention is generally designated <b>20</b>. A golf club utilizing the putter-type club head <b>20</b> is generally designated <b>10</b>. The club head <b>20</b> preferably includes a main body <b>25</b> and a removable aft-member <b>30</b>. In a preferred embodiment, the main body <b>25</b> is composed of a material having a density ranging from 0.90 g/cm³to 6.0 g/cm³. A preferred metal for the main body <b>25</b> is an aluminum alloy. Alternative materials for the main body <b>25</b> include aluminum, titanium, titanium alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, and the like. The body <b>25</b> is preferably formed as a single cast structure using known investment casting techniques. However, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that alternative forming techniques such as milling, welding forged or formed pieces, and the like may be utilized without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

p-0026The main body <b>25</b> preferably weighs from 70 grams to 300 grams, more preferably from 100 grams to 200 grams, even more preferably from 120 grams to 150 grams and most preferably 130 grams.

p-0027The removable aft-member <b>30</b> is preferably composed of a material that has a density greater than the density of the material of the main body <b>25</b>. In a preferred embodiment, the removable aft-member <b>30</b> is composed of a material having a density ranging from 6.0 g/cm³to 20.0 g/cm³, and more preferably from 7.0 g/cm³to 10.0 g/cm³. In a preferred embodiment, the removable aft-member <b>30</b> is composed of stainless steel. In alternative embodiments, the removable aft-member <b>30</b> is composed of zinc, brass, copper, gold, silver, tungsten, tungsten-based alloys, iron-based alloys, and copper-based alloys.

p-0028The removable aft-member <b>30</b> preferably weighs from 80 grams to 300 grams, more preferably from 150 grams to 250 grams, and most preferably 240 grams. There is preferably a 2-to-1 mass ratio between the removable aft-member <b>30</b> and the main body <b>25</b>.

p-0029The putter-type club head <b>20</b> preferably has a mass ranging from 250 grams to 500 grams, more preferably from 300 grams to 400 grams, and most preferably 340 grams.

p-0030In a preferred embodiment, the main body <b>25</b> has a face portion <b>40</b>, a crown portion and a sole portion. The face portion <b>24</b>, the crown portion <b>26</b>, the sole portion <b>28</b>, the column portion <b>30</b> and the peripheral mass belt <b>23</b> define a central aperture <b>32</b> that extends through the body <b>22</b>.

p-0031The putter-type club head <b>20</b> has a width W′ that extends from a heel end to a toe end that preferably ranges from 3.0 inches to 6.0 inches, more preferably from 4.5 inches to 5.5 inches, and most preferably 5.22 inches.

p-0032In a preferred embodiment, a crown portion has an alignment means such as circular inserts. Each of the circular inserts are preferably composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,831, entitled Golf Club Head with A Polymer Insert, assigned to Callaway Golf (the assignee of the Present Application), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, each of the circular inserts may be composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane. Each of the circular inserts is preferably colored white, through painting or doping of the polyurethane with coloring agents, and each circular insert <b>40</b><i>a</i>-<i>c </i>preferably has a texture of a golf ball cover. Each of the circular inserts preferably has a diameter ranging from 1.62 inches to 1.70 inches, and most preferably 1.68 inches.

p-0033Alternative alignment means are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,798, entitled Golf Club And Head Including Alignment Indicators, assigned to the Callaway Golf (the assignee of the Present Application), which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by reference. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,798, the alignment means assists a golfer in properly aiming a golf ball toward a hole when putting. Alternative alignment means, including a large white strip may be utilized in the present invention.

p-0034The face portion <b>40</b> preferably has a thickness ranging from 0.10 inch to 0.50 inch, more preferably 0.20 inch to 0.35 inch. Preferably, an external surface of the face preferably has a face recess, not shown, therein with a face insert disposed therein such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,302, entitled A Golf Club Head With An Insert Having Integral Tabs, assigned to Callaway Golf (the assignee of the Present Application), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,302, the face insert is preferably composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material and is preferably colored white.

p-0035The putter-type club head <b>20</b> preferably has a length, L, from the face portion <b>40</b> to the rearward most end of the removable aft member <b>30</b>, preferably ranging from 3.0 inches to 6.0 inches, more preferably from 4.5 inches to 5.5 inches, and most preferably 5.07 inches. In one alternative embodiment, the putter-type club head <b>20</b> has a length, L, that is equal to the width, W′.

p-0036The puffer-type club head <b>20</b> preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity ranging from 3750 g-cm²to 4200 g-cm², and more preferably 3950 g-cm²to 4100 g-cm². The Izz axis extends from the sole to the crown.

p-0037The removable aft member <b>30</b> allows for the mass of the club head <b>20</b> to be extended outward from the center of gravity to increase the moment of inertia without adding more mass to the club head <b>20</b>.

p-0038The removable aft member <b>30</b> allows for interchangeability between the main body <b>25</b> and the removable aft member <b>30</b>. Preferably, fasteners <b>45</b> are inserted through apertures in both the main body <b>25</b> and the removable aft member <b>30</b> to secure each other together. A urethane vibration layer <b>50</b> is placed between the main body <b>25</b> and the removable aft member <b>30</b> to pr event unwanted vibrations and to eliminate the need for bonding agents. Several removable aft members <b>30</b> may have a ball scoop for picking up a golf ball <b>21</b> without the need to bend down.

p-0039From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.